#LCPL recs

[lakecountylibrary]

Just the essentials!

Music credit: "Cinema Blockbuster Trailer 7" by Sascha Ende Link: https://filmmusic.io/en/song/329-cinema-blockbuster-trailer-7 License: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license (CC BY 4.0)

[Video Description: A 26 second video. Orchestral, cinematic music plays. Text reads The library is on fire! Grab the most important things!

A librarian at her computer spins around in her chair in slow motion, a look of horror on her face. Video cuts between various librarians frantically rescuing items. Each scene is labeled with the item:

The South Shore Posters: A librarian completely obscured by a framed South Shore Line poster she is carrying backs out of a room.

The hand chair: A librarian hauls away a large red plastic chair shaped like a hand.

Patron holds: A librarian shovels patron holds off the holds shelf onto a cart.

Benny the library skeleton: A librarian princess-carrying a large skeleton dressed in an oversized t-shirt frantically looks around for an exit before dashing away

The cardigan pile: A librarian almost completely obscured by the pile of cardigans in her arms runs toward the camera.

3D printer: A librarian dashes up to a large 3D printer and attempts to lift it off the table

Cecily the giraffe: A librarian pats a life size baby giraffe statue and then grabs it by the leg and begins slowwwly scooting backward to slide it across the carpet

The library tree: A librarian grips an enormous planter out of which springs an entire tree and pulls with all her might. It doesn't move.

James Patterson books? : The librarian carrying Benny sprints into frame between shelves loaded with endless Patterson books. Record scratch. The sound of a clock ticking as he considers the books for maybe two seconds.

Text changes to "Not enough hands". The dramatic music resumes as he sprints off frame with Benny.

End card with the library logo. The words 'Not actually on fire. Everything is fine.' are typed across the screen. End description]

[lakecountylibrary]

This is excellent advice - JSTOR's free monthly articles are an amazing resource and of course we second asking your librarian for books that are accessible for general audiences.

Also ask your librarian for online databases! Some libraries have paid access to JSTOR, and some may have access to similar databases about specific topics that are free for cardholders.

For example, we at LCPL have Gale World History In Context, a database all about world history with full-text articles - you'll never be stopped by a paywall and you can be sure all the information is reputable.

You do need to be a resident of our library district to use our databases, but this is just an example - check with your local library to see what they've got for you! Libraries pay a lot for our databases and it's always a struggle to get the word out about them. You'll make a librarian very happy if you ask!

(Also, if you ARE one of ours, here are our history databases: https://www.lcplin.org/student-research#history Have fun!)

Is wikipedia a good source, and are there other free online sites where I can learn about Mesoamerican history

Take wikipedia with a grain of salt. Always check the citations to see if they are citing good sources or wonky websites.

I recommend searching Google Scholar as they are often easily accessible journal articles, book chapters, and sometimes even entire books. But again, make sure these are reputable publications from known journals, publishers, or academic institutions.

[gettingready2read]

If you’re happy and you know it...

... Jungle edition! If you’re happy and you know it, give a ROAR! This fun and interactive picture book will have kids clapping their hands, scratching their fur, flapping their wings and more as they sing and play with their favorite jungle animals. Singing and Playing are important early literacy skills and two of the Every Child Ready to Read practices for kindergarten readiness.

You can read this book one-on-one with your little one, but it’s extra fun with friends! You may find it this summer at one of our preschool storytimes - sign up at your favorite branch.

Extend the book with a fun activity using Twitchetts free printable action dice. Action dice like these encourage imaginative play, which can help your child build narrative skills. Some of the combinations are ridiculous and will have you cracking up as your child learns, imagines and explores!

[lettermen-of-the-usa-stuff]

2021 Autographs for Heroes USMC LCPL Austin Smith REC an autographed Texas A&M Jimbo Fisher football from former Uof ARK Coach Randy Ross. #autographsforheroes #HeroesWeek #Lotusa #sfctf #aggiesfootball #TexasAM #UnitedStatesMarineCorps #veterans #woundedveterans #lettermenofusa (at Lettermen of the U.S.A) https://www.instagram.com/p/Cku00wXujA4/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[lakecountylibrary]

If you liked Camp Damascus, try Hell Followed With Us

and vice versa!

There's a lot to love in both Camp Damascus by @drchucktingle and Hell Followed With Us by Andrew Joseph White. As horror novels about queer youth with, shall we say, complicated relationships with religion, they have a lot in common - if you liked one you very well may like the other. Let's take a closer look.

Characters:

Both books feature queer, autistic youth fighting back. The characters are trying to survive in a world created for them by abusive adults and religious institutions that hold power over them.

In Camp Damascus we follow Rose (autistic, lesbian). In Hell Followed With Us we follow Benji (neurodivergent, trans) and Nick (autistic, gay).

Genre:

Both books are horror, but with two distinct flavors. Camp Damascus has more of a creepy factor, while Hell Followed With Us leans more toward gore. In Camp there is some mystery to the evil, but in Hell the evil has a name, a face, an address - and a to-do list.

Both books deal with Christian cults and the horrors of indoctrination. They deal with the characters' complicated relationships to Christianity as an institution and God as a concept. They also both quote Christian scripture heavily.

Vibes:

While both books are horror, they do feel very different, largely because the primary emotion that drives each story is different. In Camp Damascus, it's love. In Hell Followed With Us, it's rage. You'll certainly find both emotions in certain quantities in either novel, but what they primarily put forward distinctly changes the vibe of both books.

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So there you have it! Two fantastic reads in close thematic conversation with each other - but still quite distinct. If either sounds good to you, do yourself a favor and check out both today!

See more of Robin's recs

[lakecountylibrary]

A behind-the-scenes look...

Music credit:

Lord of the Land by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Source: http://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/index.html?isrc=USUAN1400022

Video description and audio transcript continue under the cut:

[Description: A get ready with me video narrated by a library employee, comprised of several short scenes.

Narration: Get ready with me to open a local library. My day typically starts at 8:30 and first I turn on the lights. Simple, but essential in banishing the dark spirits from the stacks.

The narrator walks into the library and turns on the lights. Several shadowy figures disappear behind the shelves as the lights come up.

Narration: Next I head down to book up the computers. Libraries require a lot of data, so we always hack into a few government databases to provide top-tier reference work.

He logs into his computer and begins typing furiously, then turns to the camera with his hand on his chin and an intent look on his face.

Narration: After that, I tend to our Guardian Tree that protects the library from evil spirits like censorship and sentence fragments.

A shot of a tree in a large planter in the middle of the library.

Narration: It's been really into cozy mysteries lately, so we do our best to provide. Thank you, Tree Spirit!

The librarian lays out three cozy mysteries on the planter's rim, then bows to the tree with his hands pressed together.

Narration: Today's a bit special, since it's the monthly taming of the library bookworm. So I grab my Library of Congress blessed sword and my favorite cardigan - plus two to my AC - and head down to the dungeon.

The librarian reaches down to grab a sword and cardigan from under his desk. He shrugs on the cardigan then takes the sword into an elevator and walks through a basement hall lined with book boxes.

Narration: Down in the dungeon we've got lots of damaged items and overstocked James Patterson books to keep the worm sated. But sometimes extra care is needed. A well scourged dragon is the key to any good collection development policy. Thanks for hanging out. Tell us how your bookstore or library gets ready. Bye!

He pulls out the sword and prepares to leap into battle in a darkened room with a flowery, cheerful sign on the door reading Sorting Room. The video ends mid leap. /description]

[lakecountylibrary]

HAPPY PRIDE and may I say, I am so happy you're here reading this 💖

Welcome to my yearly 5 Fav LGBTQ+ Reads post, where I tell you about the top 5 books with queer characters that I've read in the past 12 months. These aren't necessarily recently published, they're just what I personally liked and happened to read - and maybe you'll like them too.

It's been such a delight to see the number of books I have to choose from grow and grow since I first started writing these posts in 2017. It's now difficult to pick just 5! But I did it. For you. Here we go:

Legends & Lattes/Bookshops and Bonedust by Travis Baldree (lesbian rep)

Cozy fantasy that lives up to the hype. Curl up under a blanket with a comforting beverage and read about the retired orc adventurer who finds her people through the power of coffee and baked goods.

Swordheart by @tkingfisher (nonbinary rep)

One woman (in her 30s!!! Not A Teen!) fights for her inheritance and her life with the help of a possessed sword and a nonbinary lawyer. Takes place in the same world as Kingfisher's Clocktaur War, but you don't have to read that first. Swordheart leans more toward the cozy side of fantasy. (There's, you know, some murders. But the stakes are lower than the fate-of-nations plot of Clocktaur.)

Hell Followed With Us by Andrew Joseph White (gay, trans rep)

Hard left out of cozy fantasy and straight (lol jk) into horror! Hell Followed With Us pulls no punches. It takes place in the aftermath of a viral apocalypse caused by a fanatical religious group. It follows trans boy Benji, the cult's escaped chosen one who has found shelter with a group of queer teens. Content warnings for body horror, religious trauma, transphobia, gore, and misogyny.

Camp Damascus by @drchucktingle (gay, lesbian rep)

Another horror entry, this one about a conversion camp survivor in Montana. Rose grew up in the shadow of Camp Damascus and knows that their success rate is considered near-miraculous. However, when Rose starts asking questions about a few things in her life that don't add up, she discovers "miraculous" isn't quite the right word. Content warnings for gaslighting, indoctrination, emotional manipulation, child abuse, brainwashing, and body horror.

A Memory Called Empire/A Desolation Called Peace by Arkady Martine (bi, lesbian rep)

Sci-fi with excellent worldbuilding. Mahit Dzmare is an ambassador from a tiny mining station, tasked with keeping her station independent from the massive Teixcalaanli Empire. She must fully immerse herself in Teixcalaanli culture while still keeping her own culture's secrets - the discovery of which could mean immediate annihilation. Read this one if you prefer character-driven narratives over plot-driven.

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And that's this year's list! Check out my posts from previous years if you're looking for even more: 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023

Happy Pride, and happy reading!

See more of Robin's recs

[lakecountylibrary]

Nothing quite like picking up your holds at the library 🥰

[ID: Librarian at desk: Hello, oh I think your holds are ready

Another librarian hands her a few books

Patron off-screen: Thank you! Oh, I did not want that one.

Librarian: Oh my gosh, I'm so sorry.

Librarian picks up the book and winds up to yeet it into the horizon when the video cuts off abruptly. /ID]

[lakecountylibrary]

May 19

[ID: Meme with Jason from The Good Place leaning against an Ariana Grande poster. The text has been changed to read Oh Ariana we're surely in the toils now. /ID]

May 8

[Image Description: A meme from The Good Place about Dracula Daily. Jason says: "I know this sounds crazy, but I think Dracula might be a vampire." Michael, incredulous, asks: "Jonathan figured it out?! Jonathan?!" End Image Description]

[lakecountylibrary]

Book Rec: Lula Dean's Little Library of Banned Books by Kirsten Miller

Highly recommend! Kirsten Miller writes with unyielding wit while tackling complex and serious topics.

"Her father used to say they belonged to a 'silent majority' that represented the best of America. Now Melody was beginning to wonder if there might be a much bigger group who'd been holding their tongues - people who minded their own business until push came to shove. It was starting to look like the book-banning business may have shoved them a step too far."

Check out Lula Dean's Little Library of Banned Books

See more of Beth's recs

[lakecountylibrary]

Fav Books with Ace Characters

Oh?? It's Ace Week?? We have books for that.

These days, we're spoiled for choice when it comes to books with ace rep, so to narrow it down here are just my personal favorites:

The Murderbot Diaries by Martha Wells

Just in case there's some chance you haven't heard of Tumblr's favorite terrifying murderbot. Murderbot is a security unit that hacked its own governor module and, with its newfound freedom, binge watches TV instead of going on a murderous rampage. No, it's not a problem that the ace rep in this book is a sort of robot. Trust me on this one. Start with All Systems Red.

Wayward Children series by @seananmcguire

Nancy went to another world when she was a kid. Now she's back and her parents don't know what to do with their quiet, strange girl child. Luckily, there's Eleanor West's Home for Wayward Children. No solicitations, no visitors, no quests. Start with Every Heart a Doorway.

Dread Nation duology by Justina Ireland

An alternate history set in Civil War era America where, after the Battle of Gettysburg, the dead began to rise. Congress quickly passes an act requiring children of certain backgrounds (take a wild guess) to attend combat schools and train to be zombie killers and protect the wealthy, white upper class. The main character in this one isn't ace, but another major character is. Start with Dread Nation.

The Stormlight Archive by Brandon Sanderson

Epic fantasy about a disgraced and forgotten order of knights re-emerging to save a world perpetually at war from an even worse fate. It's not outright stated until later, but a major character is ace, and she's easy to spot. I know these books are cinderblocks but listen. Listen. They are So Good. If the length is intimidating, try the audiobooks - they are expertly narrated and they fly by. Start with The Way of Kings.

See more of Robin's recs

[lakecountylibrary]

Oh, wait, it's National Soup Month? Better get together some materials for a display...

perfect.

[lakecountylibrary]

Manga Spotlight!

[ID: Covers for the 3 manga described below /ID]

Yotsuba &! by Kiyohiko Azuma (All Ages)

Youtsuba is one of the best series I've read in a long time. The series is so wholesome, charming and laugh out loud funny! I love Yotsuba and all of her shenanigans. It is a must-read manga classic! For readers of all ages.

Monster by Naoki Urasawa (Adult)

Another must-read manga classic! This nine volume series is intense, riveting and heartbreaking. Check out the anime based on the manga that was released in the early 2000s.  For adult readers. 

Sakura, Saku by Io Sakisaka (Teen and Adult)

I'm a sucker for a manga love story and this one does not disappoint. I love the characters and storyline so much and I can't wait for more volumes to be released. Perfect for fans of Ao Haru Ride; My Love Mix-Up; Living Room Matsunaga-san; Love Me, Love Me Not; and My Love Story. For teen and adult readers.

See more of Kate's recs

[lakecountylibrary]

[ID: The Disability Pride flag /ID]

Happy Disability Pride Month! Here's your reminder that the Indiana State Library, in partnership with the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), provides the Talking Book and Braille Library FREE to Indiana residents who can't read standard print due to disability.

They will mail you materials, including braille ereaders, large print and braille books, and specialized audio players. They also have a digital library that you can use on your own device.

You can check them out and apply for services at https://www.in.gov/library/tbbl/!

[lakecountylibrary]

It's my favorite time of year! Time to make my annual blog post about the best queer books I read in the last 12 months!

I've been doing this since 2017 so here, go back and see some trends: 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022

Now, you may look at the covers of this year's batch and think... Four out of five of those are... kind of intense looking. Are you okay. And the answer is no, but are any of us? These books will help! Probably!

The Traitor Baru Cormorant by Seth Dickinson (lesbian, gay, bisexual, poly characters)

Ok so this book comes with like. All of the trigger warnings. Government sanctioned homophobia, racism, eugenics, graphic depictions of violence... read this one when you're feeling strong. It's a fantasy novel about characters who fight against those things in a world colonized by a profit-driven (and often, too familiar) empire. Brilliantly written, but steel your heart.

Twelve Percent Dread by @emilyscartoons (nonbinary characters)

Let's lighten up a bit, shall we? This one's a graphic novel that, as promised on the back cover, is fast paced and action-packed. Follow the adventures of Katie and Nas as they navigate jobs, adulthood, and the whims of one eccentric tech CEO who's going to change the world, one way or another.

The World We Make by @nkjemisin (ace, gay, lesbian, trans characters)

This one's a sequel, so sorry (not sorry) you're going to have to read The City We Became first. You'll love it, and you'll love this sequel. It's about New York manifested in human avatars, and it's about home and the power of being where you belong. The characters deal with some very real, familiar problems - and then they STOMP ON THEM WITH AWESOME GIANT CITY POWERS. Very satisfying read, highly recommend.

Nona the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir (wlw characters & general gender shenanigans)

This one's the third in the series, also not sorry about this one, start with Gideon the Ninth. It's sci fi! It's necromancy! God is there and he's depressed. It's really hard to describe.

A Spindle Splintered by Alix E. Harrow (bisexual, lesbian characters)

A novella for when you are short on time or attention span and want a Sleeping Beauty remix told by an author who knows her folklore. Definitely have the second novella in the series, A Mirror Mended, on hand for when you finish - you'll want more.

See more of Robin's recs

[lakecountylibrary]

Read -> Reading -> To-Read

Read what the librarian is reading! Here's what's been on LCPL librarian Kate's shelf lately.

Just Read: A Long Stretch of Bad Days by Mindy McGinnis

This YA thriller/mystery was enthralling. I finished the audiobook in one day. I loved the friendship between Lydia and Bristal and I was surprised by the plot twist at the very end. I recommend this book to readers who liked Sadie by Courtney Summers.

Now Reading: Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH by Robert C. O'Brien

This book was recommended by my husband and I'm really enjoying it so far! I'm hoping for the best for Mrs. Frisby and her children. The animals in the book are so brave and intelligent. I can't wait to see where this story goes.

To-Read: The Invocations by Krystal Sutherland

I loved Krystal Sutherland's book House of Hollow, so I've been wanting to read this book since it was published earlier this year. I'm hoping I like it as much as her last book.

See more of Kate's recs